Discount Retailers Enjoy Strong Monthfrom The Washington PostValue-conscious shoppers flocked to discount stores in April, boosting sales at chains such as Wal-Mart and T.J. Maxx, according to recent data released. Wal-Mart said sales at its stores open at least a year − a key measure of success in retailing known as same-store sales − rose 5 percent during April compared with the same month last year. More

E-commerce Stocks Rebound Rapidly, Up 36 Percent for 2009from Internet RetailerInvestors appear convinced that consumers will continue to shift their buying to the web, and have bid up the prices of the 25 stocks in the Internet Retailer Online Retail Index at a much faster rate than the recovery of the broader stock market. More

Supervalu Picks Wal-Mart Exec as Next CEOfrom Minneapolis / St. Paul Business JournalSupervalu Inc. announced that its board has appointed a Wal-Mart Stores Inc. executive to be its next CEO. Craig Herkert, 49, who had been president and CEO of the Americas at Wal-Mart since 2004, will succeed Jeff Noddle, 62, who has been CEO since 2001. Herkert isn’t unfamiliar with the operations of Supervalu. Prior to joining Wal-Mart, he spent 23 years with Boise-based Albertson’s Inc., a company that Supervalu purchased in 2006. More

On the Downloadfrom NewsweekAmazon's Kindle electronic reader has done wonders for the book business. But can it revive the sagging newspaper industry? That's the tough assignment facing the new Kindle DX, a $489 large-screen model that Amazon unveiled today in New York and will go on sale this summer. The device has a 9.7-inch (diagonal) screen that Amazon says is two and a half times bigger than that of the Kindle 2, making the new device better for reading magazines and newspapers. More

Verizon, Nokia Create Hub for Trekkiesfrom Adweek via BrandweekIt's a safe bet that if any audience can appreciate brands showing off tech muscle, it's the Trekkie crowd. Verizon Wireless and Nokia are betting that holds true as they team up on a new site that makes one of the first efforts to use so-called "augmented-reality" technology to create an interactive version of the highly anticipated Star Trek movie. The Join Starfleet Academy site is to promote Verizon Wireless services and Nokia products. More

Walgreen Chief Sees Sales Inched Up in Aprilfrom The Wall Street JournalWalgreen Co. Chief Executive Gregory Wasson says the worst of the downturn in consumer spending may be over. "Most of us think the worst case scenario we did in our planning is probably off the table," Wasson said. The chief executive of the Deerfield, Ill., pharmacy chain, said sales seemed to have bottomed in January and began to inch up in March and April. "We're beginning to see some increase, but we don't know yet how consumers are going to behave," he said. More

Survey: Green Becoming a 'Tiebreaker' in Shopping Decisionsfrom GreenBizGreen product attributes are evolving into an important brand differentiator for consumers and can serve as a tiebreaker for shoppers evaluating similar products, according to results of a new study from the Grocery Manufacturers Association and Deloitte. The organizations intercepted more than 6,400 consumers while shopping at 11 national chains and found more than half consider green attributes in their purchasing decisions. More

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Pilot Program is Helping Regency Centers Conserve Water and Dollarsfrom STORES MagazineWith nearly 450 retail properties across the country, maintaining outdoor landscaping seemed to present the prospect of ever-increasing costs for Regency Centers. Late last year, however, the company tapped into the technical expertise of HydroPoint Data Systems, which specializes in "smart controllers" that dramatically reduce water consumption for irrigation and deliver significant cost savings. As a result of the formal agreement announced in December, Regency is installing smart controllers at 36 properties in Colorado, Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington. More

U.S. Retailers See Signs of Easing in Sales Slowdownfrom The New York TimesThe nation's retailers endured another tough month in April, but they saw signs of hope that at least some consumers are coming out of hiding. Over all, retail sales for the month climbed 1.2 percent from a year earlier. But Easter shopping, warm weather and Wal-Mart's performance were responsible for much of that increase, rather than an across-the-board rebound in sales. More

Shopping Centers Can Sell Energy, Europe Conference toldfrom the International Council of Shopping CentersEven within the most challenging economy the world has seen in 60 years, shopping centers can help lead the drive for environmental and economic sustainability. That was the message delivered on the opening day of this year's ICSC European Conference by economist Jeremy Rifkin, founder and president of The Foundation on Economic Trends, a Bethesda, Md.–based think tank. Rifkin challenged his listeners to use their shopping centers, roofs, car parks and heat-exchange systems to become energy creators rather than just consumers. He said the world is currently facing three crises: climate change, recession and energy. More

Wal-Mart Shoppers Buying More Discretionary Itemsfrom Progressive GrocerWal-Mart Stores Inc.'s U.S. customers are spending more on discretionary items as payroll taxes decrease and gasoline prices plummet, Reuters reported. The Bentonville, Ark.-based mega-retailer is seeing customers purchase luxury products such as sporting goods and bedding, using the money they have since those costs have declined. The economic stimulus package included lower withholding taxes for many Americans. At the same time, gas prices are more than 30 percent lower this year than last year. More